The state of the mind
A lot has happened since the last post and a lot will continue to happen now that I have made the transition from one life stage to another. Of all that happened there are a few things that will find their way into this piece. Our very dear PM Narendra Modi was in the US amid much fanfare (both in the US and everywhere else in the world where there are more than 100 Indians per sqkm). My daughter turned 3 months old. And I tried desperately to finish a book which I started 3 months back and which should have been finished in a month.
Over the next 5 years, as I continue with my desire to write, more and more of these pieces will have references to Mr Modi who has taken the nation by storm with his sharp oratory, broad vision and undying energy as made apparent during his visit to the US where he displayed no signs of stopping or jet lag. Why will he find more and more mentions? Because he deserves them. From the vantage point of a middle class Indian with even an average sense of discretion and information, what Mr Modi delivers is a steady dose of hope which improves each time he makes a nationally broadcast speech. The only other time you can usually get that feel is when the CEO delivers the annual town hall. Where everything is great but we need to work hard to make good of boundless opportunities.
There are many parallels between how a business head in a client facing role in a corporate environment conducts himself and how Mr Modi does. There is no doubt that he has a great vision and he communicates that with impeccable clarity and charm to the people of his country. Much the same way as the business lead in an ad agency will deliver commitment and solutions to his clients. Often going back to his desk and wondering how this will need to be translated to his team. Some of whom will possibly look at it as a needless addition to their already harrowed existence.
The privilege that Mr Modi has been granted is that his team gets to hear him at the same time as the people of the nation so that nothing will ever be lost in translation. His privileges also include access to the best minds available in the form of diplomats and commitment from the best business leaders in the country. What differentiates Mr Modi from many of those who served at the PMO is a bold vision supported by a sufficiently audible announcement of the vision - sans any inhibitions. When that happens every rung in the administrative machinery gets inspired. Those who are not inspired are weeded out naturally. The first year will be the year of weeding out those who cannot carry the responsibility of the vision that 'the boss' stated. And it is in that very spirit that the role of the media, the opposition and free speech of the public should be to constantly keep the pressure on the government - NOT by criticising them for failure BUT by reminding them of the vision they promised.
From that I will make a seamless-less segue into the topic of my daughter turning 3 months old. The first quarter has been good but there are opportunities that lie ahead. As much as it sounds like a line out of a quarterly report, I included it on purpose to make sure I read it after many years and realise how my life has been consumed by work. Not that I regret it but I think it is a passing phase and happens to everyone. In any case it all fades into the background when you juxtapose it against the sight of your child growing up (and also finally starting to resemble you!). I have been away from my daughter for most of her first three months and that is due to be corrected within the next few weeks but even without that there are some things that growing kids can teach you that nothing else can. First, instinct is a gift that everyone has but most of us waste. It is a terrible thing to let go unused and especially when you're a mother. Too often we forget that if the very basic intention of a decision is well intended, there is no reason that it will go wrong. Second, if you don't trust your instinct then there's no point trusting someone else's. Just consult the doctor.
To wrap it up, distraction has become the single largest bane and pain of my existence. Never has been more apparent than in the last 3 months when I have been trying my best to finish a book that has a considerable part of my interest but a negligible part of my resolve. I'm not troubled by the distractions as much as I'm troubled by the fact that I don't know what these distractions are. By morphing into daily priorities everything has now become something that must be done. It's a frantic pace that I don't mind and in fact like on most days but not at the cost of things you held dearly - that one hour in peace after work. That one stroll before you went to bed. Whatever said and done, it all boils down to choice. For now I will choose to make peace with my choices!
Over the next 5 years, as I continue with my desire to write, more and more of these pieces will have references to Mr Modi who has taken the nation by storm with his sharp oratory, broad vision and undying energy as made apparent during his visit to the US where he displayed no signs of stopping or jet lag. Why will he find more and more mentions? Because he deserves them. From the vantage point of a middle class Indian with even an average sense of discretion and information, what Mr Modi delivers is a steady dose of hope which improves each time he makes a nationally broadcast speech. The only other time you can usually get that feel is when the CEO delivers the annual town hall. Where everything is great but we need to work hard to make good of boundless opportunities.
There are many parallels between how a business head in a client facing role in a corporate environment conducts himself and how Mr Modi does. There is no doubt that he has a great vision and he communicates that with impeccable clarity and charm to the people of his country. Much the same way as the business lead in an ad agency will deliver commitment and solutions to his clients. Often going back to his desk and wondering how this will need to be translated to his team. Some of whom will possibly look at it as a needless addition to their already harrowed existence.
The privilege that Mr Modi has been granted is that his team gets to hear him at the same time as the people of the nation so that nothing will ever be lost in translation. His privileges also include access to the best minds available in the form of diplomats and commitment from the best business leaders in the country. What differentiates Mr Modi from many of those who served at the PMO is a bold vision supported by a sufficiently audible announcement of the vision - sans any inhibitions. When that happens every rung in the administrative machinery gets inspired. Those who are not inspired are weeded out naturally. The first year will be the year of weeding out those who cannot carry the responsibility of the vision that 'the boss' stated. And it is in that very spirit that the role of the media, the opposition and free speech of the public should be to constantly keep the pressure on the government - NOT by criticising them for failure BUT by reminding them of the vision they promised.
From that I will make a seamless-less segue into the topic of my daughter turning 3 months old. The first quarter has been good but there are opportunities that lie ahead. As much as it sounds like a line out of a quarterly report, I included it on purpose to make sure I read it after many years and realise how my life has been consumed by work. Not that I regret it but I think it is a passing phase and happens to everyone. In any case it all fades into the background when you juxtapose it against the sight of your child growing up (and also finally starting to resemble you!). I have been away from my daughter for most of her first three months and that is due to be corrected within the next few weeks but even without that there are some things that growing kids can teach you that nothing else can. First, instinct is a gift that everyone has but most of us waste. It is a terrible thing to let go unused and especially when you're a mother. Too often we forget that if the very basic intention of a decision is well intended, there is no reason that it will go wrong. Second, if you don't trust your instinct then there's no point trusting someone else's. Just consult the doctor.
To wrap it up, distraction has become the single largest bane and pain of my existence. Never has been more apparent than in the last 3 months when I have been trying my best to finish a book that has a considerable part of my interest but a negligible part of my resolve. I'm not troubled by the distractions as much as I'm troubled by the fact that I don't know what these distractions are. By morphing into daily priorities everything has now become something that must be done. It's a frantic pace that I don't mind and in fact like on most days but not at the cost of things you held dearly - that one hour in peace after work. That one stroll before you went to bed. Whatever said and done, it all boils down to choice. For now I will choose to make peace with my choices!
posted by Saurabh at
12:01 AM
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